Survey on Neighborhood Vacant Houses: 500 Residents Share Impact on Community Image

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Kawata) conducted an 'Awareness Survey Regarding Neighborhood Vacant Houses' targeting 500 individuals who have vacant houses in their vicinity, and compiled the data into rankings.

Details are published on the 'Forest of Real Estate Investment' platform. ( https://2do-3.com/20866/ )

Many people likely feel inconvenienced or anxious about having vacant houses in their neighborhood.

This time, the 'Forest of Real Estate Investment' ( https://2do-3.com/ ) operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. ( https://albalink.co.jp/ ) conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 500 people with vacant houses nearby to ask about their thoughts on 'having a vacant house in the neighborhood.'

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[Survey Overview]
Target: People with vacant houses in their neighborhood
Date: May 12, 2026
Agency: In-house survey
Method: Voluntary response via the Internet
Valid responses: 500 (340 women / 160 men)
Age groups: 20s 14.6% / 30s 33.2% / 40s 29.4% / 50s 17.6% / 60s and older 5.2%

[Survey Results Summary]
- 73.4% feel 'annoyed/uneasy' about having a vacant house nearby.
- The image of an area with abandoned vacant houses is 'poor security.'
- The acceptable management state of a vacant house for neighbors is 'plants and trees are maintained.'

73.4% feel 'annoyed/uneasy' about having a vacant house nearby
When asking 500 people with vacant houses nearby, 'Frankly, what do you think about having a vacant house in your neighborhood?', the number of people who answered 'annoyed/uneasy' reached 73.4%, combining 'very' (10.4%) and 'somewhat' (63.0%).

It is evident that many people hold negative impressions of vacant houses. However, looking at the detailed responses, there were voices saying, 'If it is properly managed, it doesn't bother me' or 'If it's just one house, there's no problem.'

It seems that the perception changes depending on the condition of the property and the area, such as 'whether it is abandoned or managed' and 'whether the number of vacant houses is increasing.'

The image of an area with abandoned vacant houses is 'poor security'
When asking about 'the image of an area where vacant houses are abandoned', the overwhelming number 1 response was 'poor security (42.0%)'. This was followed by 2nd place 'lack of vitality (22.8%)', 3rd place 'sanitary concerns (11.6%)', and tied for 4th place 'don't want to live there (10.8%)' and 'bad landscape (10.8%)'.

Many people believe that abandoning vacant houses has a negative impact on the entire community, noting that they 'no longer feel safe' or find it 'lifeless and lonely.'

Abandoned vacant houses lack maintenance of the building and garden. Therefore, their appearance worsens, negatively affecting the surroundings as well.

It becomes clear that the vacant house problem is not limited merely to the interior or premises of the vacant house itself.

<1st Place: Poor Security>
- The vacant houses are generally old, window sashes are distorted, and weeds grow thickly near the gates. It seems like 'people have lost interest in the surroundings,' which is likely to create an image of poor security. (Female in her 20s)
- It seems to attach an image that the town's security is bad. (Male in his 30s)
- I feel that regional safety declines, causing crimes and disasters. (Male in his 50s)

If vacant houses are abandoned, it becomes easier for trespassing, mischief, and illegal dumping of garbage to occur.

Some worry that the presence of unmanaged vacant houses creates the impression of a place no one cares about, leading to a decline in surrounding morals. Voices mentioning, 'I think families with children will have a lot of anxiety' suggest that those who value safety are more likely to have a bad impression of the area.

If an area is perceived as 'a region with bad security' or 'an area where dangerous things might happen,' there is a fear that its popularity will decline.

<2nd Place: Lack of Vitality>
- If vacant houses are abandoned in the neighborhood, I feel the vitality of the entire town disappears, giving a slightly lonely impression. (Female in her 30s)
- As deterioration progresses, the desolate feeling becomes stronger, and I feel a strong image of depopulation. (Male in his 50s)
- There are several vacant houses. What they have in common is that grass grows around the house, making it immediately obvious that no one lives there. It used to be a beautiful residential area, but having just a few scattered around gives a desolate impression. (Female in her 60s or older)

As vacant houses increase